玉の緒

たまのお【玉の緒】

1 〔紐〕 a bead string; a string of beads.

2 〔生命〕 the thread of life; (the breath of) life.

●玉の緒が絶える breathe one's last

・玉の緒が切れた. The thread of his life has been cut.

●玉の緒を絶つ cut the thread of one's mortal life; kill oneself.

●玉の緒はまさに絶えなんとしている. His life is fast ebbing away.